Leavers - sexual health campaign
Young Western Australians are being encouraged to take simple steps to protect themselves from sexually transmissible infections (STIs) during Leavers week, which runs from 24 to 27 November 2025.
Leavers is an exciting time for the class of 2025 to celebrate and have fun, but it’s also important to think about safety and looking after themselves and their friends. Alcohol and drugs can affect judgment, so planning and making informed decisions helps keep celebrations healthy and safe.
As part of the campaign, the WA Department of Health held a condom wallet design competition. The winning design will be featured on condom wallets distributed during the 2025 Dunsborough Leavers Week, helping make condoms more accessible and encouraging safer sex.
Parents and caregivers are encouraged to have open conversations with teenagers about respect, consent, contraception, STIs, condom use and where to go for help. These discussions empower young people to make safer choices.
Objectives
The campaign aims to:
- Raise awareness about the risk of catching or spreading STIs.
- Encourage safer sex through consistent condom use.
- Increase visits to the Healthysexual website (external site) for trusted sexual health information.
- Promote access to free online STI testing.
- Support Leavers on-ground condom distribution.
Key messages
The campaign delivers tailored messages across the Leavers period, guiding young people through the key behaviours that keep them safe. The messages place these actions in context: preparation, protection, and responsibility.
Before Leavers – Be prepared and plan ahead young people are encouraged to think about their sexual health before they travel. Planning, including packing condoms, increases the likelihood that safer sex practices will be used in the moment.
During Leavers – Practise safer sex during the celebration period, the message shifts to promoting safer sex, including carrying and consistent condom use. This reinforces that safer sex is a normal and expected part of Leavers.
After Leavers – Prioritise your health by getting tested for STIs When young people return home, the focus moves to STI testing. Because many STIs don’t show symptoms, early testing means they can be treated early, promoting personal responsibility.
Target audience
- Primary, 17–19-year-olds in Western Australia, with a focus on metropolitan Perth and the South West, especially those attending Dunsborough Leavers Week.
- Secondary audiences are parents and caregivers, community organisations and health professionals who may provide opportunistic STI testing.
Timing
- 16 – 22 November: Before Leavers – pack condoms
- 23 – 29 November: During Leavers – use condoms
- 30 November–14 December: After Leavers – get tested
Leavers' events take place 24–27 November 2025.
Channels
The WA Department of Health is running a Snapchat campaign from 16 November to 14 December 2025. All campaign activity directs young people to the Healthysexual website (external site) for information, safer sex advice and STI testing options.
Campaign materials
You are encouraged to download and share these materials to help us reach our target audience and achieve our campaign objectives.
Please be in touch if you need alternative formats and let us know how you are using these materials. Thanks for your support.
Social
Contact us
The campaign is coordinated by the Sexual Health Blood-borne Virus Program (SHBBVP) program team in conjunction with the Communications Directorate.
Contact us if you need further information or materials in alternative formats.
Email: communications@health.wa.gov.au
Last reviewed: 21-11-2025
Produced by
Public Health